Cost of living comparison
South Korea is 20.5% more expensive than Japan.
If you lived in South Korea instead of Japan, you would:
pay 9.8% more for restaurants
Japan
|
South Korea
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$6.59
¥1,026
|
$6.44
₩8,729
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$4.91
¥765
|
$5.49
₩7,430
|
|
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$1.01
¥158
|
$1.39
₩1,882
|
|
Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$0.80
¥124
|
$0.74
₩998
|
|
pay 39.3% more for groceries
Japan
|
South Korea
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$1.40
¥219
|
$2.87
₩3,886
|
|
Local cheese (8 oz) |
$5.54
¥863
|
$6.02
₩8,152
|
|
Milk (1 gallon) |
$5.14
¥800
|
$7.79
₩10,553
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$1.99
¥309
|
$3.21
₩4,350
|
|
Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$2.58
¥402
|
$2.83
₩3,834
|
|
Apples (1 lb) |
$1.93
¥300
|
$2.76
₩3,742
|
|
Bananas (1 lb) |
$1.11
¥172
|
$1.39
₩1,882
|
|
Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.76
¥275
|
$2.49
₩3,372
|
|
Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$1.80
¥281
|
$2.03
₩2,750
|
|
Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.11
¥173
|
$1.69
₩2,288
|
|
Onions (1 lb) |
$0.90
¥140
|
$1.10
₩1,489
|
|
pay 11.2% less for transportation
Japan
|
South Korea
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$4.17
¥650
|
$4.58
₩6,198
|
|
Monthly public transit pass |
$60.62
¥9,438
|
$48.21
₩65,301
|
|
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$21,439.97
¥3,337,667
|
$27,876.80
₩37,756,063
|
|
Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$24.44
¥3,804
|
$8.80
₩11,918
|
|
pay 6.8% less for housing
Japan
|
South Korea
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$33.46
¥5,209
|
$20.28
₩27,462
|
|
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$480.50
¥74,802
|
$421.68
₩571,118
|
|
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$321.68
¥50,077
|
$330.55
₩447,700
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$107.01
¥16,658
|
$129.93
₩175,971
|
|
pay 67.7% more for childcare
Japan
|
South Korea
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$240.59
¥37,454
|
$386.50
₩523,473
|
|
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$10,805.94
¥1,682,214
|
$18,893.14
₩25,588,679
|
|
pay 0.5% less for entertainment and sports
Japan
|
South Korea
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$2.60
¥405
|
$2.93
₩3,962
|
|
Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$2.74
¥427
|
$3.45
₩4,676
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$3.86
¥602
|
$3.33
₩4,515
|
|
Monthly membership at local gym |
$55.52
¥8,644
|
$48.95
₩66,298
|
|
Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$11.57
¥1,801
|
$9.82
₩13,306
|
|
pay 45.2% more for clothing
Japan
|
South Korea
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$38.65
¥6,017
|
$62.63
₩84,831
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$25.96
¥4,041
|
$43.35
₩58,708
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$52.99
¥8,249
|
$72.22
₩97,813
|
|
Men's business shoes (leather) |
$85.48
¥13,307
|
$98.82
₩133,835
|
|
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